Children’s Diabetes Foundation

What Children’s Diabetes Foundation does

The Children's Diabetes Foundation (CDF) is a Denver/Aurora, Colorado-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1977 by Barbara and Marvin Davis after their daughter Dana was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. CDF operates exclusively as the fundraising arm of the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes (BDC), a clinical and research facility located on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus that serves more than 8,000 patients from 49 states and over 33 countries. Since inception, CDF has raised more than $115 million to sustain BDC's pediatric, adult, and eye clinics, support 90+ national research studies, and deliver educational and financial-assistance programs to T1D patients and families, including those who are uninsured, underinsured, or living at or below the poverty line (45% and 35% of BDC patients, respectively).

CDF's "products" are primarily programs, events, and educational publications rather than commercial offerings. The portfolio includes the Pink Panther book series (now in its 16th edition, with over 1 million copies distributed globally), the CDF Advocate youth program (ages 6-18), the T1D Strong All Day Long Camp co-hosted with the Colorado Soccer Foundation, monthly support groups in 10+ Colorado locations and Wyoming, the Helping Hand and Helping Little Hands financial-assistance programs, the Holiday Assistance program, and signature fundraising events including the Carousel Ball (Denver), Carousel of Hope (Los Angeles), Brass Ring Luncheon & Fashion Show, Run for the Ring 5K, and Tied to a Cure golf tournaments in Denver and Las Vegas. The organization runs a small professional staff of approximately 12 members under Executive Director Dana Davis and Chairman Barbara Davis.

CDF's revenue model is event-driven donation fundraising rather than product sales. Income is generated from individual donations, corporate sponsorships (Dexcom, Sanofi, Abbott, MannKind, Empower, RE/MAX, McDonald Automotive, RBC Wealth Management, Goldman Sachs, Capital Group, Summit Construction, and others), signature-event ticket/auction revenue, the NewsNotes newsletter community (9,000+ subscribers), educational book sales, the Jewels for Hope pre-owned jewelry program, and program fees (e.g., $200 per participant for T1D Strong camp). Pricing is highly tiered—from $10 test-strip donations through $10,000 hospital-stay sponsorships—and is anchored to voluntary contributions rather than fixed contracts, with major-donor engagement handled through direct cultivation.

Name

Children’s Diabetes Foundation

Legal name

Children's Diabetes Foundation

Website

https://childrensdiabetesfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Children's Diabetes Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fundraising arm of the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, raising philanthropic dollars to support type 1 diabetes research, clinical care for 8,000+ patients, patient education through the Pink Panther book series, and financial assistance programs across Colorado.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Health Foundation — Type 1 Diabetes

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Child and Youth Services (62411), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL), Maternal, Child & Family Health Program Funding (HLAJALAG)

Keywords

• Diabetes fundraising nonprofit
• Type 1 diabetes research
• Diabetes patient support
• Diabetes education resources
• Charitable health foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Aurora

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting diabetes research and patient care at the Barbara Davis Center
2. Event Fundraising: Revenue from signature events including The Carousel Ball, Brass Ring Luncheon & Fashion Show, golf tournaments, 5K runs, and conferences
3. Jewels for Hope Jewelry Sales: Sales of pre-loved jewelry and designer handbags donated for fundraising, raised over $500,000 since inception
4. Pink Panther Book Sales: Sale of educational diabetes books including 'A First Book for Understanding Diabetes' (16th edition), 'Understanding Diabetes', and other educational materials
5. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship revenue from corporate partners supporting various events and programs
6. Program Fees: Fees for programs such as T1D Strong Day Camp ($200/person) and educational events

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Children's Diabetes Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fundraising organization that raises money to support type 1 diabetes research, clinical care, and patient assistance at the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes. It sells educational books, hosts fundraising galas and athletic events, and delivers support, financial assistance, and youth programs to T1D patients and families.

Product overview

The Children's Diabetes Foundation operates as a nonprofit fundraising organization rather than a traditional technology company with a unified product. Its offerings consist primarily of educational publications (the Pink Panther Book series including Understanding Diabetes, insulin pump/CGM guides, and adult diabetes management), support programs (Advocate Program for youth, T1D Strong camp, and support groups across Colorado and Wyoming), financial assistance programs (Helping Hand, Helping Little Hands, Holiday Assistance), signature events (The Carousel Ball, Run for the Ring 5K), and newsletters (NewsNotes). The portfolio is organized around supporting type 1 diabetes patients and families through education, community, and financial resources rather than a software product platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes: A specialized diabetes facility providing clinical services for children, adolescents, and young adults with type 1 diabetes through pediatric, adult, and eye clinics.

Products and services

• Pink Panther Book Series on Type 1 Diabetes Educational book series authored by clinicians such as H. Peter Chase, MD and Brigitte I. Frohnert, MD, PhD, providing comprehensive guidance on type 1 diabetes management for newly diagnosed families, adults with diabetes, and clinicians. Books are sold to consumers, families, and healthcare professionals in the U.S. and internationally by email order.
• CDF Advocate Program Youth volunteer and leadership program for children with type 1 diabetes ages 6-18, focused on diabetes education, awareness, volunteerism, and socialization through quarterly social events.
• T1D Strong All Day Long Camp Three-day summer day camp for children with type 1 diabetes priced at $200 per child with financial aid available; combines soccer, arts and crafts, team building, and diabetes education in partnership with the Colorado Soccer Foundation.
• T1D Support Groups Monthly type 1 diabetes support groups held at 10+ in-person Colorado locations, 1 Wyoming location, and virtual sessions for patients, families, and caregivers affected by T1D.
• Helping Hand Program Financial assistance program providing diabetes supplies, travel expenses, medical alert IDs, and supplemental funds to Barbara Davis Center patients and families in financial need, with suggested giving tiers from $10 (test strips for 1 day) to $10,000 (hospital stay).
• Helping Little Hands Program Financial assistance program that supports pregnant women with type 1 diabetes by funding diabetes technology, supplies, and appointment costs to support healthy pregnancy outcomes.
• Holiday Assistance Program Annual holiday meal and gift assistance program for Barbara Davis Center patients and families, providing gift cards for Thanksgiving and December meals (e.g., $50 per meal) and gifts for children (e.g., Snow Angel $40 per child), with named tiers such as Holiday Hero, Rocking Reindeer, Super Snowman, Snow Angel, Extra Stuffing, and Gobble It Up.
• The Carousel Ball Signature annual fundraising gala featuring dinner, live and silent auctions, entertainment, and awards presentations; held in Denver and attracting celebrity performers and high-profile sponsors such as Dexcom, Sanofi, Abbott, MannKind, RBC Wealth Management, and the Macmillan Family.
• Run for the Ring 5K & Kids Fun Run Annual community running event featuring a 5K race and kids fun run with tiered registration pricing (adult: $37.50–$47.50; kids: $14.50–$20.50) and a sleep-in registration option that mails a performance t-shirt.
• Tied to a Cure Denver Golf Tournament Annual golf tournament fundraiser for CDF featuring title sponsorship by Empower and presenting sponsorship by RE/MAX, with McDonald Automotive as eagle sponsor and venue at Sanctuary Golf Club in the Colorado foothills.
• NewsNotes Newsletter Periodic email newsletter reaching 9,000+ subscribers with updates on type 1 diabetes research, clinical advancements, event recaps, and patient and family stories.
• Free T1D Awareness Printables Free downloadable educational resources including symptom bookmarks, symptom cards, symptom posters, high/low blood sugar posters, and medical alert posters available in English and Spanish for schools, families, and healthcare facilities.
• Jewels for Hope Fundraising retail program run by The Guild of CDF selling donated pre-loved jewelry and designer handbags; operates a monthly storefront on the second Saturday of each month in Englewood, Colorado, and has raised over $500,000 since 2004.
• Brass Ring Luncheon & Fashion Show Annual luncheon and fashion show fundraiser for CDF drawing 500+ attendees and raising $382,000 at the 48th annual edition in 2026, with named awards such as the T1D Changemaker Award.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,000+ patients receiving care at the Barbara Davis Center
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Summit Construction and ConsultingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor for Run for the Ring 5K event and Gold sponsor for The Carousel Ball, providing major financial support for CDF fundraising events
• DexcomcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for The Carousel Ball 2026; major supporter of diabetes technology and care research at BDC
• SanoficoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUnderwriting sponsor for Carousel Ball; supports diabetes research and patient care programs
• AbbottmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver sponsor for Run for the Ring and Gold sponsor for Carousel Ball; supporter of diabetes care technology
• CBS ColoradominorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner providing coverage for CDF events and awareness campaigns
• 5280 MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial media sponsor for Carousel Ball, providing editorial coverage
• Thollot & Co. JewelerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts annual Diamonds for Diabetes holiday fundraising event; 100% of proceeds go to CDF
• Colorado Soccer FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts T1D Strong All Day Long day camp with CDF at Soccer City Aurora; combines soccer activities with diabetes education and support
• EmpowercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor for Tied to a Cure Denver Golf Tournament; major supporter of CDF fundraising events
• RE/MAXcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for Tied to a Cure Denver Golf Tournament
• McDonald AutomotivecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEagle sponsor for Tied to a Cure Denver; provides hole-in-one vehicle prize; hosts Las Vegas Flyaway event
• Sanctuary Golf ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for Tied to a Cure Denver Golf Tournament; exclusive private course in Colorado foothills
• Goldman SachsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBirdie sponsor for Tied to a Cure Denver Golf Tournament
• Capital GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBirdie sponsor for Tied to a Cure Denver Golf Tournament
• MannKind CorporationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor for Carousel Ball; supporter of diabetes research and treatment innovation
• RBC Wealth ManagementminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor for Carousel Ball
• The Macmillan FamilyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor for Carousel Ball; received High Hopes Tribute Award 2025 for decades of generous support
• The Guild of CDFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer organization of CDF that raises funds through jewelry sales, holiday assistance, Boo Bash, and other events; has raised over $2 million for BDC
• Barbara Davis Center for DiabetescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary beneficiary of CDF fundraising; one of the largest diabetes facilities globally; provides clinical care for 8,000+ patients; CDF has donated over $110 million since 1978
• University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBDC is part of CU Anschutz; hosts ATDC Conference in conjunction with CU Denver School of Medicine; provides teaching opportunities for medical students and fellows
• Children's Hospital ColoradomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with BDC on Adolescent Transition Program; supports Pediatric Endocrine Fellowship

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• College Diabetes Network: CDN is a nonprofit providing peer support and resources for young adults with T1D in college settings. It overlaps with CDF's CDF Advocate Program (ages 6-18) and T1D Strong camp in serving the youth/young-adult T1D community, though it focuses on a narrower life-stage transition.
• diaTribe Foundation: diaTribe Foundation is a patient-focused nonprofit producing educational content and advocacy on diabetes treatment and care. It overlaps with CDF's Pink Panther book series in patient education but operates at a smaller scale and with a more media-production orientation.
• T1D Exchange: T1D Exchange is a nonprofit research organization that aggregates T1D patient data and runs clinical studies, including studies that supported Tzield's FDA approval. It overlaps with BDC's research mission and competes for research-donor attention, but focuses on data/research infrastructure rather than direct fundraising events.

Direct peers

• Beyond Type 1: Beyond Type 1 is a digital-first T1D nonprofit focused on education, advocacy, and community programs, with a younger demographic and social-media-driven engagement model. It overlaps directly with CDF's awareness, education, and youth programs and competes for the same T1D family donor segment.
• JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation): JDRF is the largest U.S. nonprofit focused exclusively on type 1 diabetes research, advocacy, and support. It directly competes with CDF for T1D donor dollars, research funding partnerships, and event-driven fundraising, though at a meaningfully larger national scale with broader geographic reach.
• Diabetes Research Institute Foundation: DRIF is the fundraising arm of the Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami, focused exclusively on curing diabetes through cell-based therapies and bioengineering. Its fundraising model and mission arc — research institute plus affiliated foundation — closely mirrors CDF's relationship with the Barbara Davis Center.

Broad incumbents

• American Diabetes Association: The American Diabetes Association is the largest diabetes-focused nonprofit in the U.S., covering both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes through research funding, advocacy, and education. It competes with CDF for general donor support and corporate sponsorships but operates at a national scale with a much broader mission than CDF's T1D-only focus.
• Joslin Diabetes Center: Joslin is a Harvard-affiliated diabetes research and clinical care center with a long-established affiliated fundraising operation. It competes with BDC/CDF for T1D research prestige and donor mindshare, and offers overlapping pediatric, adult, and pregnancy care programs.

Regional players

• International Diabetes Federation: IDF is a global umbrella organization representing over 230 national diabetes associations across 170+ countries. It does not directly compete for U.S. donor dollars but operates in the same disease space and engages with global T1D research and advocacy initiatives that overlap with CDF's international patient reach (49 states, 33+ countries).
• Diabetes UK: Diabetes UK is the leading U.K. diabetes charity supporting research, care, and advocacy across both T1D and T2D. It is comparable in mission structure (research funding, patient services, awareness) but operates in a different geography, making it a structural peer rather than a direct donor competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/children's-diabetes-foundation
• Xx.com/CDFdiabetes
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChildrensDiabetesFoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Children’s Diabetes Foundation